[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 145 (Tuesday, July 28, 2020)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 45345-45347]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-16211]
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Proposed Rules
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of
the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these
notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in
the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
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Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 145 / Tuesday, July 28, 2020 /
Proposed Rules
[[Page 45345]]
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2020-0713 Product Identifier 2019-CE-061-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation
Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD)
for certain Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation GVII-G500 airplanes. This
proposed AD was prompted by a report of a fuel quantity disparity
between the overhead panel touch screens and the touch screen
controllers. This proposed AD would require incorporating operating
limitations into the airplane flight manual (AFM) until the fuel
quantity management system (FQMS) software is updated. The FAA is
proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
DATES: The FAA must receive comments on this proposed AD by September
11, 2020.
ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR
11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
Fax: 202-493-2251.
Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.
Hand Delivery: Deliver to Mail address above between 9
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
For service information identified in this NPRM, contact
Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation, Technical Publications Dept., P.O.
Box 2206, Savannah, GA 31402-2206, telephone: 800-810-GULF (4853),
email: [email protected], internet: https://www.gulfstream.com/en/customer-support/. You may view this service information at the FAA,
Airworthiness Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 901 Locust,
Kansas City, MO 64106. For information on the availability of this
material at the FAA, call 816-329-4148.
Examining the AD Docket
You may examine the AD docket on the internet at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2020-
0713; or in person at Docket Operations between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD docket contains
this NPRM, any comments received, and other information. The street
address for Docket Operations is listed above. Comments will be
available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jared Meyer, Aerospace Engineer,
Atlanta ACO Branch, FAA, 107 Charles W. Grant Pkwy., Atlanta, GA 30354;
phone: 404-474-5534; fax: 404-474-5605; email: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
The FAA invites you to send any written relevant data, views, or
arguments about this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address
listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2020-0713;
Product Identifier 2019-CE-041-AD'' at the beginning of your comments.
The FAA will consider all comments received by the closing date and may
amend this proposed AD because of those comments.
Except for Confidential Business Information (CBI) as described in
the following paragraph, and other information as described in 14 CFR
11.35, the FAA will post all comments we receive, without change, to
https://regulations.gov, including any personal information you
provide. The FAA will also post a report summarizing each substantive
verbal contact it receives about this proposed AD.
Confidential Business Information
Confidential Business Information (CBI) is commercial or financial
information that is both customarily and actually treated as private by
its owner. Under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552),
CBI is exempt from public disclosure. If your comments responsive to
this NPRM contain commercial or financial information that is
customarily treated as private, that you actually treat as private, and
that is relevant or responsive to this NPRM, it is important that you
clearly designate the submitted comments as CBI. Please mark each page
of your submission containing CBI as ``PROPIN.'' The FAA will treat
such marked submissions as confidential under the FOIA, and they will
not be placed in the public docket of this NPRM. Submissions containing
CBI should be sent to Jared Meyer, Aerospace Engineer, Atlanta ACO
Branch, FAA, 107 Charles W. Grant Pkwy., Atlanta, GA 30354. Any
commentary that the FAA receives which is not specifically designated
as CBI will be placed in the public docket for this rulemaking.
Discussion
The FAA was alerted by the manufacturer that certain Model GVII-
G500 airplanes have exhibited a disparity between the fuel quantities
displayed on the overhead panel touch screens and the fuel quantities
displayed on the touch screen controllers. Investigation revealed two
known failure conditions that the Model GVII-G500 FQMS does not
properly detect and report to the crew. These failure conditions are
fuel quantity probe drift and an FQMS over-current condition, which
could result in erroneous and misleading fuel quantity indications, and
could also result in erroneous and misleading fuel imbalance
indications. These conditions could cause a false annunciation of a
fuel imbalance, a failure to annunciate an actual fuel imbalance, and a
condition where the actual fuel quantity is less than or greater than
the indicated fuel quantity. The FQMS software logic does not properly
detect or compensate for these failure conditions.
This condition, if not addressed, could result in fuel starvation
during flight, performance impacts of the airplane having more fuel
than
[[Page 45346]]
indicated, and a roll moment due to a fuel imbalance.
Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51
The FAA reviewed Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation Aircraft Service
Change (ASC) No. 025, Revision A, dated October 16, 2019; and GVII-G500
Airplane Flight Manual Supplement No. GVII-G500-2019-05, Revision 2,
dated October 1, 2019. The service information updates the fuel
quantity signal conditioner software to version 10003-42130-01-19.03,
which resolves a known issue with potential erroneous fuel quantity
readings and requires incorporating operating limitations into the
airplane flight manual (AFM) until the fuel quantity management system
(FQMS) software is updated. The AFM Supplement includes revisions to
the airplane operating limitations. This service information is
reasonably available because the interested parties have access to it
through their normal course of business or by the means identified in
the ADDRESSES section.
FAA's Determination
The FAA is proposing this AD because it evaluated all the relevant
information and determined the unsafe condition described previously is
likely to exist or develop in other products of these same type
designs.
Proposed AD Requirements
This proposed AD would require accomplishing the actions specified
in the service information described previously.
Costs of Compliance
The FAA estimates that this proposed AD would affect 39 airplanes
of U.S. registry.
The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this proposed
AD:
Estimated Costs
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Cost per Cost on U.S.
Action Labor cost Parts cost product operators
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Software update.................. 26 work-hours x $85 per Not applicable..... $2,210 $86,190
hour = $2,210.
Airplane flight manual revision.. 1 work-hour x $85 per Not applicable..... 85 3,315
hour = $85.
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According to the manufacturer, some of the costs of this proposed
AD may be covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost impact on
affected individuals. The FAA does not control warranty coverage for
affected individuals. As a result, the FAA has included all costs in
this cost estimate.
Authority for This Rulemaking
Title 49 of the United States Code specifies the FAA's authority to
issue rules on aviation safety. Subtitle I, section 106, describes the
authority of the FAA Administrator. Subtitle VII: Aviation Programs,
describes in more detail the scope of the Agency's authority.
The FAA is issuing this rulemaking under the authority described in
Subtitle VII, Part A, Subpart III, Section 44701: General requirements.
Under that section, Congress charges the FAA with promoting safe flight
of civil aircraft in air commerce by prescribing regulations for
practices, methods, and procedures the Administrator finds necessary
for safety in air commerce. This regulation is within the scope of that
authority because it addresses an unsafe condition that is likely to
exist or develop on products identified in this rulemaking action.
Regulatory Findings
The FAA determined that this proposed AD would not have federalism
implications under Executive Order 13132. This proposed AD would not
have a substantial direct effect on the States, on the relationship
between the national government and the States, or on the distribution
of power and responsibilities among the various levels of government.
For the reasons discussed above, I certify this proposed
regulation:
(1) Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive
Order 12866,
(2) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
(3) Will not have a significant economic impact, positive or
negative, on a substantial number of small entities under the criteria
of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by
reference, Safety.
The Proposed Amendment
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the
Administrator, the FAA proposes to amend 14 CFR part 39 as follows:
PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
0
1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.
Sec. 39.13 [Amended]
0
2. The FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness
directive (AD):
Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation: Docket No. FAA-2020-0713; Product
Identifier 2019-CE-061-AD.
(a) Comments Due Date
The FAA must receive comments by September 11, 2020.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation Model GVII-
G500 airplanes, serial numbers 72001 through 72049, certificated in
any category.
(d) Subject
Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC)/Air Transport Association
(ATA) of America Code: 2840, Fuel Indicating System.
(e) Unsafe Condition
This AD was prompted by a fuel quantity disparity between the
overhead panel touch screens and the touch screen controllers, which
could result in inaccurate fuel indications. The FAA is issuing this
AD to ensure a software update occurs correcting fuel quantity
monitoring system software logic to compensate for a failed fuel
quantity measuring sensor. The unsafe condition, if not addressed,
could result in fuel starvation during flight.
(f) Compliance
Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified,
unless already done.
(g) Actions
(1) Within 30 days after the effective date of this AD, revise
the airplane flight manual for your airplane by incorporating the
operating limitations in Gulfstream Aerospace GVII-G500 Airplane
Flight Manual Supplement No. GVII-G500-2019-05, Revision 2, dated
October 1, 2019.
(2) Within 12 months after the effective date of this AD, update
the Fuel Quantity Signal Conditioner software to version
[[Page 45347]]
10003-42130-01-19.03 and perform an operational test in accordance
with the Modification Instructions in Gulfstream GVII-G500 Aircraft
Service Change No. 025, Revision A, dated October 16, 2019, except
you are not required to report information to the manufacturer.
(3) The operating limitations required by paragraph (g)(1) of
this AD, if installed, may be removed after completing the software
update required by paragraph (g)(2) of this AD.
(h) Credit for Previous Actions
If you updated the Fuel Quantity Signal Conditioner software
before the effective date of this AD using Gulfstream GVII-G500
Aircraft Service Change No. 025, dated July 19, 2019, you met the
requirements of this AD.
(i) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(1) The Manager, Atlanta ACO Branch, FAA, has the authority to
approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the procedures found
in 14 CFR 39.19. In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, send your request
to your principal inspector or local Flight Standards District
Office, as appropriate. If sending information directly to the
manager of the certification office, send it to the attention of the
person identified in the Related Information section of this AD.
(2) Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate
principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager
of the local flight standards district office/certificate holding
district office.
(j) Related Information
(1) For more information about this AD, contact Jared Meyer,
Aerospace Engineer, Atlanta ACO Branch, FAA, 107 Charles W. Grant
Pkwy., Atlanta, GA 30354; phone: 404-474-5534; fax: 404-474-5605;
email: [email protected].
(2) For service information identified in this AD, contact
Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation, Technical Publications Dept., P.O.
Box 2206, Savannah, GA 31402, telephone: 800-810-4853, email:
[email protected], internet: https://www.gulfstream.com/en/customer-support/. You may review this referenced service
information at the FAA, Airworthiness Products Section, Operational
Safety Branch, 901 Locust St., Kansas City, MO 64106. For
information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call
816-329-4148.
Issued on July 22, 2020.
Gaetano A. Sciortino,
Deputy Director for Strategic Initiatives, Compliance & Airworthiness
Division, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-16211 Filed 7-27-20; 8:45 am]
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